Sears Holdings Corporation gained 1.4% or 83 cents to $61.25 after the specialty retailer intends to obtain senior secured term loan of up to $1 billion to reduce the borrowing costs. If approved, the loan would be issued under retailer''s current $3.2 billion revolving credit agreement.

Sohu.com Inc soared 6.3% or $4.12 to $68.87 after the China-based online media company and Sogou Inc. with Tencent Holdings Limited said to establish strategic partnership to strengthen Sogou as a leader in China market for search and internet services for the mobile platform.

Tencent has invested $448 million in cash in Sogou and merged its Soso search related businesses.